Man Arrested After Suburban Home Found with Crocodile, Snakes and Cannabis Farm
A 39-year-old man has been arrested following the discovery of what police have described as a makeshift zoo containing dozens of exotic animals, alongside a substantial hydroponic cannabis farm and illegal firearms, inside a suburban property in New South Wales.
Police Raid Uncovers Alarming Scene
Officers from the NSW Crime Command's Raptor Squad initially arrested the man during a search of a white Toyota Hilux in Kempsey, located in the state's northeast, at approximately 10am on Wednesday. This arrest prompted investigators to raid a nearby property in Collombatti, where they allegedly uncovered a shocking array of illegal activities.
According to NSW Police, the property contained a makeshift zoo housing numerous native and exotic reptiles, a hydroponic cannabis cultivation setup, and several firearms. Police will allege that inside the home was a 1.3-metre saltwater crocodile, 38 snakes including a cobra, 19 lizards, three hedgehogs, 28 dogs, and nine cats.
Organised Crime Links and Animal Welfare Concerns
Detective Acting Superintendent Brad Abdy stated that early investigations indicate the man was involved in the black market sale of exotic animals. He expressed significant concern about the implications for both native wildlife and organised crime networks.
"It is certainly concerning that our native animals are being exported to other countries and that other exotic animals are exported into this country," Supt Abdy said. "Exporting native animals risks our ecosystem and our native animals. Any sort of importation does go towards facilitating organised crime."
He further noted that it is not uncommon for individuals involved in organised crime to possess exotic animals, describing the scene as confronting. "It's not every day that we do an entry into a premises and there's a 1.5 metre saltwater crocodile in a bedroom," he remarked. "You've got a hydroponic cannabis setup there with 28 dogs, essentially guarding that. Then a premise full of venomous snakes and a saltwater crocodile."
Seizure of Drugs and Weapons
During the raid, police also allegedly seized 52 hydroponic plants, 11 kilograms of cannabis leaf with an estimated street value of $85,000, and a rifle concealed inside the kitchen. The search was not initially prompted by the alleged exotic animal farm, though officers had received tips about the presence of animals, with the exact types and numbers unknown beforehand. Supt Abdy confirmed there were 15 exotic animals from six different species on the property.
Charges and Legal Proceedings
The 39-year-old man was taken to Kempsey Police Station and charged with multiple offences, including:
- Enhanced indoor cultivate cannabis for commercial purpose
- Cultivate prohibited plant commercial quantity-cannabis
- Supply cannabis indictable and commercial quantity
- Owner/occupier knowingly allow use as drug premises
- Eight counts of deal in or attempt to deal in protected animal
- Several firearm offences, such as possess shortened firearm without authority and possess unregistered firearm-prohibited firearm
Officers, alongside workers from the local council and RSPCA, assisted licensed reptile handlers and biodiversity regulators in moving the animals to safer locations. The man was refused bail and is scheduled to appear at Bail Division Local Court on Thursday.
